Top 10 Good Sitcoms that Went Downhill

Here are some sitcoms that started to go downhill as they went on.

1. That '70s Show

   

   That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that originally aired on Fox from August 23, 1998, to May 18, 2006. The series focuses on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin. The storyline is set between May 17, 1976, and December... read more

   The first six seasons were great and classic, but season 7, minus a few good episodes, was just bad, unfunny, and uninteresting. Not only was the humor forced and no longer sharp, but the plots were also forced and uninteresting. Eric with his whole "year off" nonsense basically turned him into a lazy character who added nothing to the show anymore. I also didn't care for the whole Angie and record store plots, and I didn't really see how we were suddenly supposed to believe that Hyde has a Black father. Whenever I get to this season I always end up taking much longer to watch it, whereas the first five or six seasons I sometimes fly through in just a few days.

2. Happy Days

   

   Happy Days is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984. The series produced a total of 255 half-hour episodes during its run. It became a cultural phenomenon and introduced characters like Fonzie, who became iconic in American pop culture.

3. The Office

   

   The Office is an American television comedy series that aired on NBC from March 24, 2005, to May 16, 2013. The show is an adaptation of the British series of the same name created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It became a cultural phenomenon and is especially known for its mockumentary style... read more

4. The Big Bang Theory

   

   The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, who also served as executive producers alongside Steven Molaro. The show follows a group of socially awkward scientists and their interactions with friends and romantic partners. It featured several notable guest stars throughout... read more

5. How I Met Your Mother

   

   How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 19, 2005, to March 31, 2014. The series follows Ted Mosby as he recounts to his children the events leading up to how he met their mother. The show is set in Manhattan and features an ensemble cast including Josh... read more

6. Seinfeld

   

   Four single friends, comic Jerry Seinfeld, bungling George Costanza, frustrated working gal Elaine Benes, and eccentric neighbor Cosmo Kramer, deal with the absurdities of everyday life in New York City.

   Seinfeld is a sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1989 to 1998. It is often regarded... read more

7. Family Matters

   

   Family Matters is a sitcom that aired from 1989 to 1998. It originally centered on the Winslow family, but the focus gradually shifted to their nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel, who was only supposed to appear in one episode. The show often features characters learning important life lessons after making mistakes... read more

   Should be higher. The later seasons were so over the top sometimes.

   Should be number 1.

8. My Wife and Kids

   

   My Wife and Kids is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from March 28, 2001, to May 17, 2005. Produced by Touchstone Television, now known as ABC Studios, it starred Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin.

   The show centers on Michael Kyle, a loving husband and modern-day patriarch... read more

9. The Cosby Show

   

   The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984, until April 30, 1992. The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York. It was one of the most popular... read more

   The last two seasons are basically the Olivia and Pam show.

10. Two and a Half Men

    

    Two and a Half Men is an American television sitcom that began broadcasting on CBS on September 22, 2003, and ended on February 19, 2015, after twelve seasons.

    The show was well received due to the comedic onscreen chemistry between Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer.... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Home Improvement

    

    Home Improvement is an American television sitcom starring Tim Allen that aired on ABC from September 17, 1991, to May 25, 1999. The show ran for eight seasons with a total of 204 half-hour episodes. It followed the life of Tim The Tool Man Taylor, a television show host and family man.

12. ?

    Married... with Children

The Contenders

13. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

    

    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The show starred Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself. It became a cultural touchstone and launched Smith's successful acting career.

    As I've said before, the first three seasons were pretty great, but during season 4 it took a turn for the worst. Obviously, the new Aunt Viv didn't help, but that wasn't even the main problem. The main problem for me was how annoying they made Will with all his overacting and his whole "you know whaaat I'm sayin'" nonsense every episode. They basically turned him into a one-note character, just a walking, talking hormone.

    Not only Will, but Carlton became more exaggerated as well. He was always jumping and squealing whenever he was excited about something, as if he were a kid about to wet himself. Also, they seemed to be running out of stories. Will sleeping with Uncle Phil's old girlfriend is one glaring example, and it felt more fitting in a show like Two and a Half Men.

    It got so bad that at one point they actually had an episode that literally focused on Hilary wanting to pose for Playboy, lol. Don't get me wrong, there were still a few quality episodes here and there, like the one where Hilary goes out with Will's professor and the one with Uncle Phil's heart attack. But overall, the season had more bad episodes than good ones.

    Season 5, however, was better. It wasn't quite as great or sharp as earlier seasons, but the Will and Lisa relationship was engaging enough and made for some interesting stories and good, funny moments. But then they just threw it all away for season 6, which was mostly just dull and forgettable.

14. Friends

    

    Friends is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. It originally aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, spanning ten seasons. As of April 2026, the series continues to be popular through syndication and streaming platforms, though it is no longer part of... read more

15. Good Times

16. Roseanne

    

    Roseanne is an American television sitcom starring Roseanne Barr that revolves around the fictional Conner family. The series originally aired on ABC from 1988 to 1997 and was revived in 2018. It is known for its realistic portrayal of a working-class American family.

    People only talk about how bad season 9 was, which I won't argue with, but what they miss is that the quality was already going downhill during season 8 and even at the end of season 7.

17. Will & Grace

    

    Will and Grace is an American sitcom created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan about the friendship between Will Truman, a gay lawyer played by Eric McCormack, and Grace Adler, a straight interior designer played by Debra Messing. It aired on NBC from September 21, 1998, to May 18, 2006, spanning eight... read more

18. George Lopez

    

    George Lopez is an American television sitcom that aired from 2002 to 2007. The series stars comedian George Lopez as a fictionalized version of himself, balancing family responsibilities and workplace issues. It was notable for featuring a predominantly Hispanic cast and for addressing cultural themes... read more

19. Boy Meets World

    

    Boy Meets World is an American coming-of-age sitcom created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly. It aired on ABC for seven seasons from September 1993 to May 2000. The series follows Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) as he grows from childhood into adulthood.... read more

    In the later seasons it was literally a drama rather than a sitcom, not that drama is bad, and Cory became so boring and uninteresting unlike in the earlier seasons, at least to me.

20. Diff'rent Strokes

21. Full House

    

    Full House is an American sitcom created by Jeff Franklin for ABC. The show chronicles a widowed father, Danny Tanner, who enlists his best friend and brother-in-law to help raise his three daughters. It originally aired from 1987 to 1995 and became a staple of family television during its run.

    It became the Michelle show basically.

22. Parks and Recreation

    

    Parks and Recreation, often referred to as Parks and Rec, is an American political comedy television sitcom. The show stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, a perky mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks Department of Pawnee. Pawnee is a fictional town located in the state of Indiana.

23. Good Luck Charlie

    

    Good Luck Charlie is an American sitcom that originally aired on Disney Channel from April 4, 2010, to February 16, 2014. The series was created by Phil Baker and Drew Vaupen, who aimed to design a show that would appeal to both children and their families. It starred Bridgit Mendler as Teddy Duncan... read more

24. Webster

25. Raven's Home

    

    Raven's Home is an American comedy and family television series developed by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas that aired on Disney Channel from July 21, 2017, to September 3, 2023. Based on characters created by Michael Poryes and Susan Sherman, the series is a spinoff and sequel to That's So Raven, making... read more

26. Sam & Cat

    

    Sam & Cat is an American teen sitcom that originally aired from June 8, 2013, to July 17, 2014, on Nickelodeon. It is a crossover spin-off/sequel of both iCarly and Victorious, starring Jennette McCurdy as Sam Puckett and Ariana Grande as Cat Valentine. The show follows the two characters as they become... read more

27. Cory in the House

    

    Cory in the House is a television show that aired on the Disney Channel from January 12, 2007, to September 12, 2008. It is a spin-off of the Disney show That's So Raven. The series follows Cory Baxter as he moves into the White House when his father becomes the personal chef to the President.